In search of high volume bilge blowers

[Gunn]

Not too long ago there was a thread where someone mentioned purchasing high-volume bilge blowers. That's all I can remember, so my search didn't turn up anything. I'm trying to find some that are better than what I currently have, or find some way to increase the fresh air to my engine room.

I have made some headway in trouble-shooting my vapor lock issues that affect various owners of the 280DA. I've found that if I can properly vent the engine room area, I can minimize the chance of having vapor lock on one or both of my engines....:

• One outing I cruised for 45 minutes, idled for 10, then shut everything down. Sat for 4 hrs. When trying to start, engines were vapor locked.
• Another outing, cruised for 20 minutes and shut down. Let the bilge blowers run for two hours, then restarted. All good.
• Another outing, cruised for almost 2 hours (100F air temp), shut down. Left bilge blowers run for 45 minutes, along with ER hatch open. All good.
• Same outing, proceeded onward to home after a 15 minute cruise. Shut everything down. 5 hours later, turned on bilge blowers for ~5 minutes and started. One engine died due to vapor lock and would not run.

I need to get more airflow to the ER. It seems to be the most cost effective solution. Leaving the hatch is fine is we're not on the boat, but can't be done if we are.

I currently have a pair of Rule Model 240 4" in-line blower's that pull air from the bottom of the bilge out the port side vents of the boat. There is a pair of vents on the starboard side that are open (allowing air in). Specs seem to indicate these Rule blowers have an "open air" 235 cfm output. Are there any better units out there? The only other units I can find have a best of 250 cfm, and cost 5x more. If I can get more airflow I think I could really minimize my vapor lock issues, if not prevent it completely. I need some way to keep the ER relatively cool...

Thanks,

Tom

 

[roadkingh1]

I got rid of the inline blower(blade) and bought these:

Jabsco 4" 250 Cfm Flexmount Heavy​

35770-0092​

Hodges Marine​

2​

$149.44​

$298.88​

They are squirrel cage blowers. Heavy duty,continuous and quiet. They do pull more amperage and your switch may not be able to handle the load.

http://www.hodgesmarine.com/Jabsco-4-250-Cfm-Flexmount-Heavy-Duty-Blower-1-p/jab35770-0092.htm

 

[roadkingh1]

I forgot to mention that I had vapor lock issues until I came across this service bulletin. I called my local searay dealer and they put a shield in between the exhaust mandifold and my fuel filter. On my boat I have two fuel filters per engine, one is mounted by searay and the other comes with the mercrusier engine.

 

[Gunn]

Thanks for that link. I had found something similiar but the cfm is nearly the same as my current ones, for 4x the cost. So I wonder if it will get me anything overall?

I also wonder if a heat shield will do any good...but I will look. I think it has more to do with the ambient temps in the ER.